When Paul Sullivan was born three months premature, doctors didn’t know if he would make it. He’s done that and a whole lot more. Sullivan graduated from Destrehan High School last week as one of the school’s most accomplished students, finishing his high school tenure with a 3.89 grade point average while earning a 30 ACT score. He also completed several honors and one AP course during his time at the school, and he now plans to attend Mississippi State University to major in computer engineering.
He overcame two disabilities on his way to those accomplishments. Sullivan is both hearing and visually impaired, though he downplays any effect those issues have had on him.
“It doesn’t really slow me down,” he said. “With my contacts, I don’t see 20/20, but it’s a little under that. They’ve got it as corrected as they can. Maybe we’ll try a new technique in the future to get it there, but I’m in a good spot right now. My vision is stable, my hearing is stable.
“With that stuff, I never really sat down and thought, ‘Why me? Why did I get chosen to have these problems?’ It could be worse. It could be better but it could be worse. I take what I’ve got and I do what I can.”
Early in Sullivan’s life, however, his disabilities did create a communication barrier, particularly when it came to schooling.
“They didn’t really know what to do at first,” Sullivan said. “They said, ‘Okay, we’ll start him in special education like everyone else.’ But after a little bit, they shifted gears. ‘We can accommodate his disability and put him in regular activities and courses.’”
By the time he got to high school, he had established himself as an excellent student and was enrolled in honors courses in math and science.
“I took (honors courses in math and science) … I could have in English and history, but I backed off,” Sullivan said. “I’m good at that, but between marching band and the other activities I was in, and knowing I wanted to pursue an engineering career … I knew there was only so much I could do. Let me focus on the classes I know will get me (to engineering).”
Sullivan was introduced to engineering as a potential career path through his father, who is a chemical engineer. He said he loves to figure out how things work and has a lot of interest in technology.
“(Technology) has helped me in my life with hearing aids, computers for when I write papers … I like to look at something and think of that little touch that could make it better,” Sullivan said. “For instance, how to make a driverless car better … I’m not able to drive at night, so how could I get that to be perfect? Those are the types of things I like to think of. I want to innovate.”
Another interest of Sullivan comes on the stage, where he is very active in community theatre through the River Region Drama Guild and River Region Ballet. He has been involved in theatre for the past 13 years, beginning with a performance of The Nutcracker.
In 2010, he stepped away from acting and did more work behind the scenes with lighting and sound effects. But while helping his sister direct a show for her senior project, the acting bug bit him again.
“It was a small cast … I was watching them and I’m like, ‘Man, why am I not on that stage?’” he said. “So, I gave it a shot. They gave me one of the leads … not the biggest lead, but a lead. I got back out there and I wondered why I ever stopped.”
His favorite role came as the Mouse King in The Nutcracker.
“It was different,” he said. “They don’t see your face, so you have to express yourself through your body. It just took off and it was a lot of fun. And really, how many times do you get to go play a giant rat? It was so much fun.”
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